Two bodies were tragically pulled from water in Greater Manchester over the weekend, while a desperate search for a boy is continuing in Salford. Specialist search teams and sniffer dogs are still scouring the River Irwell at Clifton Country Park on Monday after reports of a boy getting into difficulty on Saturday afternoon. The boy has not yet been found, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said.
Search Efforts Underway
Drones have been spotted over the area, and Tactical Aid Unit officers have been pictured at the scene amid the huge search. A GMP spokesperson said: "At around 4.49pm on Saturday 27 June 2026, we were called to reports of a boy getting into difficulty in the River Irwell at Clifton Country Park. Emergency services and specialist search teams remain at the scene. The incident is ongoing."
Previous Incidents
This follows the recovery of a 15-year-old boy's body from Cowbury Reservoir in Stalybridge on Saturday evening. Police said emergency services were called to reports of the boy getting into difficulty in the water, and his body was later recovered. On Sunday evening, the body of a woman in her 60s was pulled from water near Mill Street in Tottington, Bury. A GMP spokesperson said: "At around 8.20pm last night (28 June), officers responded to reports of a body in the water close to Mill Street, Tottington. Sadly, the body of a woman in her 60s was recovered from the water. There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances."
Fire Chief's Warning
The latest water-related deaths came just weeks after a May heatwave saw 19 people lose their lives in open water, many of them children. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service urged people to have honest conversations with young people about open water safety. Area Manager Steve Jordan said: "The risks are real, and the consequences can be fatal. The thoughts of everyone in our service are with the family and friends affected by separate incidents in our waterways. These are upsetting reminders of how quickly situations can become dangerous around open water."
He added: "Even on warm days, the water is cold enough to cause cold water shock - which can make you inhale water and affect your movement - if you jump in, fall in or enter the water suddenly. And there could be dangerous objects and strong currents beneath the surface. I am urging everyone to have an honest conversation with the young people in their lives. Please remind them that jumping into and swimming in our rivers, reservoirs, lakes, canals and quays can be extremely dangerous, particularly if they are not a strong swimmer. If they get into trouble themselves, they should 'float to live' - by tilting their head back, moving their hands and legs, and relaxing to control their breathing. And if they are with someone who gets into difficulty, they should not enter the water themselves."
